Street cricket

Chance to Shine Street brings cricket to thousands of young people in urban areas. It uses the game to increase aspiration, promote social cohesion and create opportunities in diverse communities. There are 165 Chance to Shine Street projects across the country.

It’s a fast-paced version of the game played with a tapeball - a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape - in small enclosed spaces. With six players per team and 20 balls per innings, it’s cricket’s answer to five-a-side football. Check the rules out here.

Why do we offer Chance to Shine Street?

We feel that every child, no matter where they live, should have the opportunity to play cricket. Chance to Shine Street is a counter for a lack of accessible clubs and green spaces in inner-city areas and aims to make cricket accessible to young people throughout the country.

Street cricket offers a different way into the sport, with 86% of players not part of a traditional cricket club when they joined the sessions. Many - around 1 in 10 - do go on to play at a traditional cricket club or enter park-based T20 leagues but for most the Street project becomes their club.

The projects run after-school or at weekends, they are completely free, players don’t need to bring any equipment and can wear whatever they like. The sessions run in sports halls, youth clubs, parks and community centres for two age groups - Youths (eight–16) and Young Adults (16–24) – and in some locations we run female-only sessions.

“It's fun and it's healthy and I also like socialising with others and I enjoy playing cricket.” - Female Chance to Shine Street cricketer, age 11

Competition

All participants involved in Chance to Shine Street projects have the opportunity to take part in local competitions against other nearby projects in the school holidays, with the possibility of progressing to regional and then national competitions each year for the Under 15 and Under 12 age groups.

We also run weekly young adult leagues in some towns and cities with plans in place to progress to regional and national competitions for league winners; and host a national girls Street Cricket Festival and Competition. The opportunity to compete against others from across the country is something which they relish, and equally as important as testing themselves against the best in the country is the opportunity to make new friends and to visit new places.

Watch some of the action from the Street National Finals

Who does Chance to Shine reach?

Chance to Shine Street is bringing the game to some of the most disadvantaged areas of England. Three-quarters of Street cricketers live in the 30% most deprived areas of England and the sessions provide them with an alternative to hanging out on the streets or sitting at home in front of the TV.

Street is appealing to children from diverse communities. 76% are from BAME backgrounds and two thirds come from families of south-Asian heritage. Street is helping to break down social barriers and integrate people into their local area. In a 2018 survey of 658 Street participants, 78% said “I have met people from different backgrounds” and four fifths agreed “I have made new friends”.

Developing leaders

We’re incredibly proud of the fact that 34% of coaches that lead established Chance to Shine Street projects were previously participants or volunteers. Having coaches that come from similar backgrounds is incredibly inspiring for the young cricketers and 85% of participants said “I look up to my coach”, whilst 91% said “My coach inspires to do my best”.

Find your nearest Street project

If you are interested in attending please email [email protected] with the project you would like to join and we will pass your details to the relevant person.

Please note this list is not exhaustive and Street projects can change venues at short notice.

Gifts to the charity are currently being doubled thanks to the support of Chance to Shine Patron Adrian Beecroft. With your help, we can continue to spread the power of cricket to state schools and disadvantaged communities throughout England and Wales.

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Chance to Shine is a national cricket charity that works in state schools and communities to spread the power of cricket. We believe that all children should be given the opportunity to play and learn through cricket.
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Chance to Shine is an independent charity that works to spread the power of cricket in schools and communities across the country. Set up as the Cricket Foundation, the charity aims to provide opportunities in state schools and deprived communities.

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